2008 Cadillac Escalade Platinum Edition luxury SUV

Cadillac Escalade Platinum Edition

Calling its 2008 Cadillac Escalade Platinum Edition “the large SUV of choice among luxury customers”, General Motors tries to make the huge SUV a tougher competition for the gorgeous 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL450.

The 2008 Cadillac Escalade Platinum Edition, GM is reporting in its press release, is equipped with a powerful 6.2 liter V8 VVT engine.

Mated to the Hydra-Matic 6L80 six-speed automatic transmission, the power-plant develops 403 hp of power with 417 lb.-ft. (565 Nm) of torque.

Unfortunately, the company says nothing about the vehicle’s estimated fuel (in-)efficiency, but it is clear that this one will be a thirsty beast.

Main highlights are LED headlamps, making for a much more comfortable ride MRC suspension, 22-inch wheels and lots of luxurious touches inside the driver’s cabin.

Quite predictably, the list of standard equipment includes most of the features that are usually available to GM customers as pricey (sometimes, extremely pricey) options. Those include an advanced rear seat entertainment system with a pair of LCD screens and a DVD player, as well as a navigation system with a really huge 8-inch display.

Expensive leather? Check. Precious wood? Check. Heated steering wheel? Sure! In two words, it rocks.

No info on prices yet, but expect it to be quite expensive.

Photos: GM/Cadillac

See also: 2008 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid SUV is a go